Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has paid his first state visit to Germany and met with Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss trade, energy and security reforms.
The trip signaled the launch of a “Dual Year” of cultural and economic exchanges between Mexico and Germany.
The chancellor announced she and Peña Nieto had discussed “issues of great significance.” She said Germany could help the country achieve “more efficient” forces in its fight against organized crime. She also offered German support for training soldiers for Mexico to deploy as United Nations peacekeepers.
In total, the visit produced 16 agreements relating to security, energy, technology and finance. Germany is already Mexico’s principal trading partner in Europe, with US$17.4 billion in bilateral trade last year.
The “Dual Year” will see some 1,000 events celebrating Germany be brought to Mexico over the next 12 months. Peña Nieto said the events offered a chance for Germany and Mexico to “come closer together.”
Mexican soccer star Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, who is currently playing for German club Bayer Leverkusen was invited to dine with Peña Nieto and Merkel at Berlin’s Bellevue presidential palace.